The government's plan to allow shopping malls to reopen on June 5, 2020 is far too early, said Indonesian Consumers Organisation (YLKI) Chairman Tulus Abadi.
"Opening shopping malls on June 5, in my opinion, would be too early and reckless, and thus YLKI objects to the plan," said Mr Abadi in an official statement as quoted by Antara, Tuesday (26/5).
This, Mr Abadi added, is due to Indonesia's high coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rate especially in Jakarta and its surrounding areas. He asserted that malls should be allowed to reopen only if the curve of transmission starts to flatten.
"When the curve is yet to flatten, there is no reason for the government to allow malls to reopen, especially in Jakarta," Mr Abadi said.
As such, YLKI has asked Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to reject the plan to reopen malls on June 5. In addition, relevant authorities have also been asked to impose firm sanctions on mall operators and tenants that violate health protocols.
"The fact is that it will be very difficult to control [the implementation of health protocols] and the potential for violation is very high. We ask that the government refrain from this early and reckless move of opening malls or any other place that can potentially become a new infection cluster," Mr Abadi concluded. (MS)